148 As Wished (One Update)

Gu Yuan worked in the palace last night and only returned to the mansion this morning. As soon as he returned, he learned from the servant Wutong that Gu Yanfei was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall by Madam Tai.
Although my sister is clever and didn't suffer a loss, over the past two months, Madam Tai has targeted my sister again and again, which is simply too much.
Gu Yuan looked at Mrs. Gu with a cold and determined gaze.
The entire hall fell silent, and everyone else watched this pair of ancestors and grandchildren in silence.
Gu Jian frowned and said in a condescending tone as an elder, "Yuan, today is the big day of ancestor worship, don't act stubborn and cause trouble!"
"The elders do everything for your own good!"
He had a serious and earnest expression, as if imparting important advice.
Gu Yuan raised an eyebrow indifferently, his gaze aloof, and coolly remarked, "Is it also for the good of a nephew when Marquis Hou meddles with a bowstring?"
What does this mean?! Most of the other Gu family members present were at a loss and looked at each other.
"..." Gu Jian's face slightly turned purple, and he was speechless for a moment.
He wanted to say that Gu Yuan had misunderstood, and wanted to brush it off vaguely, but he saw Gu Yuan smilingly asking, "Marquis, is your arm better now?"
As they spoke, Gu Yuan's gaze meaningfully swept over Gu Jian's injured arm, attracting the attention of others.
Immediately, someone remembered that Gu Jian's right arm was injured seemingly due to a broken string of the rhino horn bow. But from the implications in Gu Yuan's words, could this not be an "accident"?
Thinking, the crowd's gaze towards Gu Jian became meaningful, each with their own guesses.
"..." Gu Jian felt their stares were like thorns, his face grew even darker, and a dull pain radiated from his right shoulder to his right arm.
Of course not!
Now his injured arm is immobilized in a cast, and his right forearm is suspended in a bandage in front of his chest. His appearance is equivalent to having the words "I am injured" written on him, and anyone can tell that his injury has not healed.
Guyuan is just deliberately asking tricky questions!
Gu Jianyue became more and more annoyed and couldn't help thinking more. He kept pondering over Guyuan's words, feeling that there was a hidden needle in the cotton. Guyuan was clearly mocking himself and saying that he deserved it.
In the past, Gu Yuan wouldn't dare to be so rude to his uncle like this. This kid is just getting carried away because he is now in the Imperial Guards and feeling proud of himself!
Gu Jian gritted his teeth secretly and took on the posture of Marquis Dingyuan. He raised his voice and scolded, "Yuan Ge, you are being so unruly and disrespectful to your elders. Believe it or not, this Marquis will make a record of your disobedience..."
In the midst of speaking, Gu Jian couldn't help but feel slightly humiliated and angry. Being ridiculed by his nephew in front of his two stepbrothers and a group of younger relatives made him feel utterly embarrassed.
But before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Madam Gu, who spoke coldly:
"Enough."
Madam Gu's voice was neither light nor heavy, but had a resounding quality. At the same time, she gave Gu Jian a glance, indicating him to stop talking nonsense.
Gu Jian could only awkwardly close his mouth, feeling somewhat dissatisfied in his heart.
For the lawsuit between the mother and son, Gu Yuanquan doesn't care at all. He casually brushed off the nonexistent dust on his shoulder, and a mocking smile appeared on the corner of his lips as he sighed softly:
"Madam Tai, Marquis Hou, what grand gestures. One wants to send her granddaughter to the nunnery, while the other wants to participate in his nephew's progress..."
"Sister, you're not frightened, are you?" Gu Yuan turned to look at Gu Yanfei with a serious expression, and even took out a brand new handkerchief for her. "Don't be afraid, you have your brother."
Gu Yanfei cooperatively took the handkerchief handed over by Gu Yuan and pretended to wipe her eyes, nodding vigorously with her shining eyes: "With my brother here, I am not afraid."
Her voice was clear, and she looked as sweet as can be.
Gu Yuan was greatly pleased by this, as he gently rubbed her soft head.
Madam Gu's mouth twitched, as she looked back and forth between Gu Yanfei and Gu Yunzhen.
She is so far away, and she can smell the alcohol on these two girls. They must have been drinking a lot tonight. Gu Yanfei is simply outrageous, and she still has the nerve to say "scared"!
These siblings are clearly making use of the topic to express their own ideas!
Gu Yanfei didn't even bother to conceal the smell of alcohol, and continued to wipe away nonexistent tears with a handkerchief, as if he was only wearing a scented sachet.
The front hall fell into a dead silence, with a storm brewing beneath the surface.
As she looked at Gu Yuan and Gu Yanfei in front of her, Lady Gu's eyes gradually grew darker, and she tightly held onto her Buddhist prayer beads.
Before the emperor stopped writing, there was an order from the Ministry of War delivered to the Marquis' mansion, saying that Gu Jian had injured his hand and was unable to perform his original duties, so he was transferred from the Deputy Commander of the Left Imperial Guard to the Guardianship Department.
Although his rank remains the same, the Left Imperial Guard is subordinate to one of the Five Army Camps, while the Guardianship Department is only responsible for protecting the imperial mausoleum and has no real power. It can be said that it is the "cold bench".
For several days, Lady Gu has been upset and troubled by this order.
If things continue like this, the Marquis's residence will likely continue to decline and become a fallen noble house with title but no real power.
Now only Gu Yuan is able to maintain the dignity for the Luan Ceremony Department and uphold the last bit of respect for the Marquis's household.
At this moment, we absolutely cannot split apart, and even more so cannot let the situation escalate to the point of no return.
The silence lasted for so long that other people subconsciously held their breath, feeling a suppressed atmosphere before the storm.
The eldest branch has been suppressed for a full eight years, and now with Gu Yuan's rise, it seems that there will be some changes in the layout of this marquis's mansion.
Finally, Lady Gu was the first to break the silence: "Yuan ge, what do you want?"
Her words were deliberately emphasized, her voice calm and clear, which only added to the pressure.
"Split the family." Gu Yuan said coldly.
"Impossible." Madam Gu said without hesitation, her firm tone leaving no room for doubt.
That was her bottom line!
Gu Yuan looked straight into Madam Gu's eyes, without evading, his pupils as calm and cold as a frozen lake.
His indifferent attitude made Lady Gu uneasy: Gu Yuan has always been stubborn and opinionated.
So Lady Gu put aside her pride and kindly advised, "Yuan, your parents may not be here anymore, but I am still your grandmother."
"As long as parents are alive, families won't be divided. This is an eternal truth, and it applies to every household in the capital city."
"You and your younger sister are not yet adults, one is not yet of age and the other hasn't come of age. How can you establish your own household?"
Gu Yuan's eyes were cold, his gaze unmoving, and his heart remembered the teachings of his father when he was still alive.
At that time, his father asked him, "Yuan, if you want to find someone who doesn't like you and ask for a sword, what would you do?"
He waved his fist and said, "Beat him."
Dad chuckled and said, "But what if you can't beat him?"
As he furrowed his brow and pondered, Dad smiled and taught him, "You just boldly demand all the opponent's weapons and then negotiate step by step. Understand?"
At that time, Gu Yuan was only four or five years old, and he didn't understand.
But now Gu Yuan already understands.
Gu Yuan raised his chin slightly, outlining a cold and stern curve, with a hint of contemplation. This time, he slowly said, "Not separating is also possible."
"As for the matters of the ancestral home in the future, Lady Tai and Lord Hou don't need to meddle in them."
"The marriage arrangement for my sister will be decided by me, her eldest brother, so as to prevent Lady Tai from casually giving her away to some random person for 'good luck'."
Gou Yanfei was slightly startled.
She didn't expect that her older brother would make such a scene today, solely for her sake.
Marriage is governed by parental arrangements. Considering the loss of her father and mother in the main family, Lady Tai does indeed have the authority to decide her marriage.
Although for Gu Yanfei, if she is unwilling, there is simply no one in the world who can force her.
But, the way Big Brother considers every detail for her still warms her heart, making it sweet and warm, like drinking sweet sugar water.
Mrs. Gu slowly averted her gaze, suppressing her displeasure in her chest.
The room quieted down again, and you could hear a pin drop.
After careful consideration, Mrs. Gu reluctantly squeezed out a word between her teeth: "Fine."
"I promise you."
She finally nodded reluctantly, feeling a sense of discomfort in her heart, as if something had slipped from her grasp.
She didn't like it.
Gu Jian widened her eyes and instinctively wanted to object, but she held her tongue and remained silent, her face becoming cold and stern.
Gu Yuan snapped his fingers loudly and said, "Words alone are not enough. So please, Madam Tai, write a written agreement and sign it."
The words "acting recklessly" were on the verge of escaping from Lady Gu's lips, but she clenched her tongue and swallowed them back.
Gu Yuan paid no attention to Mrs. Gu's reaction and called his servant, Wutong, to bring paper and ink, placing them on a large mahogany desk.
"Madam, please." Gu Yuan gestured to Mrs. Gu, inviting her to write the contract.
Madam Gu Tai does not like this feeling of being forced, she wishes she could brush off and leave. However, since the conversation has already reached this point and she has already compromised to this extent, she cannot give up now.
She is like an arrow on a string, she has to shoot now.
The phoenix tree at the side quickly grinds the ink, and a faint ink scent blends with the surrounding sandalwood and candle fragrance.
Mrs. Gu cleared her throat and slowly walked to the desk, picking up a brush pen.
As everyone watched her stiff figure, they were all stunned.
No one expected that things would develop in this direction.
In no time, Lady Gu finished writing a contract, then signed her name at the bottom, and finally used her thumb to press a vermilion seal.
Gu Yuan leaned over and looked at the content of the contract, quite satisfied.
He personally dried the ink on the rice paper and handed the contract carefully to Gu Yanfei, reminding her, "Sister, keep it safe."
Gu Yanfei nodded obediently and carefully folded the silk paper, with a smile on her face.
This is Big Brother's affection for her, and she will cherish it... When she returns, she will have it framed!
With a smile, Gu Yanhan's gaze shifted from Gu Yanfei to Gu Yunzhen, and he said, "And there is also Sister Zhen's marriage..."
A strong sense of dissatisfaction accumulated in Lady Gu's heart, and at this moment, that surging anger finally erupted uncontrollably.
"Gu Yuan, don't push your luck!"
Mrs. Gu was furious and interrupted Gu Yuan's words, her gaze fierce.
She had already agreed with the Murong family that Gu Yunzhen would get married today, and there was absolutely no possibility of changing it.
顾云真不想顾渊为了自己得罪了顾太夫人，赶紧拉了拉他的袖子，无声地摇了摇头。
"Brother, " Gu Yanfei said with a smile, "Grandfather will decide on the marriage of Big Sister."
"Soon."
She said this with a meaningful look.
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